What is the difference between a raincoat and a rain jacket?

A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant garment worn on the upper body to shield the wearer from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats with long sleeves that are waist-length. A rain jacket may be combined with a pair of rain pants to make a rainsuit.

Though companies disagree on test standards, you can trust that any gear that a major brand designates as “waterproof” can stand up to a serious squall. Waterproof/breathable: This type of performance rainwear keeps rain from getting through to your skin, while also moving sweat back through to the outside world.

Waterproof jackets will also have taped seams and waterproof zips. You can also identify if a jacket is waterproof due to the fabric composition on the fabric care label. The fabric care label can be found on the inside seam of the jacket and will state whether or not it's a waterproof material.

This means the jacket has a waterproof coating on the outer fabric with fully taped seams and it may have a built in membrane lining. A membrane lining is a sheet of material with lots of tiny holes in it to help with breathability, because these holes are so small no water can penetrate it.

On this page you'll find 11 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to raincoat, such as: overcoat, slicker, trench coat, mac, mack, and mackintosh.

Although both rain jackets and hardshells are waterproof, there are notable distinctions between the two. Hardshells offer maximum durability and protection against extreme weather, while rain jackets strike more of a balance among performance, cost, and weight-savings.

As temperatures drop outside your jacket, the warm humid air you produce inside the jacket contacts the cooler surface of the jacket and changes from vapour to liquid causing beads of water to form on the inside of your jacket.

Fit The fit should encourage layering underneath, but shouldn't be too loose. Remember that you should be able to cinch your rainwear down so it's snug enough if the weather turns. Move your arms, bend your knees. A full range of motion is essential.

Too tight and it'll feel like you're in a wetsuit. Too loose, and you'll feel like you're carrying around your own personal cloud of humidity. A good rule of thumb is a coat you can zip over a sweatshirt or other fall apparel, and it'll be just loose enough for freedom of movement.

Based on the raincoat function, we could find some reason for this. Visibility: Yellow is a highly visible color, especially in low-light conditions or when it's raining, which makes it an excellent choice for outerwear.

Other Features to look for in a rain jacket

If it's warm, but wet, you don't really need to worry about insulation. So a decent cotton t-shirt under a lightweight rain jacket might be all you need. If the rain dies off, you can get rid of the rain jacket and stay cool and dry in just a t-shirt.

mackintosh, waterproof outercoat or raincoat, named after a Scottish chemist, Charles Macintosh (1766–1843), who invented the waterproof material that bears his name. The fabric used for a mackintosh was made waterproof by cementing two thicknesses of it together with rubber dissolved in a coal-tar naphtha solution.

The British term for a raincoat is "mackintosh" or "mac".

raincoat and mac, rain boots and wellies

We could call it a raincoat too and we can also call it a Mackintosh.

Most times, it's dirt and crud that are covering the water-repellent coating, making your jacket soak up water. Also important to note, using household detergents to clean can leave behind residues that attract water, so it's important to use a technical cleaner for items with water-repellent coatings.

For the water vapour to escape effectively it is important that the outer surface of the material is not saturated with water. To prevent this your jacket is treated with a DWR coating (Durable Water Repellancy), but this coating wears off over time and needs to be replaced.

Reversible Use Unisex Waterproof Long Coat Raincoat for Men and Women with Adjustable Hood and Reflector at Back for Night Visibility

Most Rains wear can be machine washed. We always recommend checking the care label of your product, before machine washing. Follow the instructions on the care label. If your product cannot be machine washed, we refer to the instructions from “How do I care/clean for my product?”.

If you wear a jacket every day of a week-long hiking trip and get it sweaty and dirty, wash it when you return home. If you wear it every weekend, wash it once or twice a year. If it's something you wear daily, clean it once a month.

How often you need to reproof a jacket depends on how often you use it and the extent to it is put to the test in the elements. If you wear the jacket frequently and are out in all conditions we recommend reproofing every three to four months.

Generally the Unisex raincoats are loose-fit and a half size larger than normal clothing while the Womens raincoats matching your normal clothing size. This can vary though, so go after the largest measurement that fit you for the most comfortable fit.

Nylon or Polyester: which is better for raincoats? Polyester resists water better when compared to Nylon. Therefore Polyester is better for raincoats.

In rain jackets, a waterproof membrane is a super thin, super lightweight barrier that prevents liquid moisture from getting through. Unlike DWR treatments, membranes are permanent. They aren't like a thin layer of fabric, but are more like paint you put on a wall, or a lamination.

Length of a raincoat can be a sensitive topic because when too short it will not cover enough of your body to go through pouring rain and if too long it can restrict your movements too much especially when riding a bike or doing chores in the garden.

While the classic yellow color is still a solid choice for casual wear, for a more dressed-up look, opt for a jacket in a neutral color such as navy, olive, or khaki. In my opinion, the mac coat is the best raincoat option to wear over a suit.